Weigela plant named &#39;WFMOBLA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Weigela  cultivar named ‘WFMOBLA’ is disclosed, characterized by a low, mounded plant habit requiring little pruning to maintain shape. Plants are very cold hardy and produce attractive glossy dark foliage. Dark foliage appears in the Spring when overwintered in a poly-house. The new. variety is a  Weigela , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Weigela florida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘WFMOBLA’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Weigela cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Timothy D. Wood, in Grand Haven, Minn. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new Weigela varietieswith low, mounded, dwarf plant habits, and improved productionperformance. The open pollination resulting in this new variety occuredduring May of 2009.

The seed parent is the commercial variety, Weigela florida ‘Verweig’U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,824. The pollen parent is unknown as it was anopen pollination breeding program. The new variety was identified as apotentially interesting selection in June of 2011, at a greenhouse inSpring Lake, Minn.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘WFMOBLA’ by softwood cuttingswas first performed during June of 2011 at commercial greenhouse inGrand Haven, Minn. Subsequent propagation has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 4successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘WFMOBLA’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘WFMOBLA’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘WFMOBLA’ as a new and distinct Weigelacultivar:

1. Attractive, glossy dark burgundy black foliage.2. Excellent hardiness.3. Attractive low mounded habit that requires little care or pruning tomaintain shape.4. Dark foliage in the Spring when overwintered under poly-housegreenhouse.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘WFMOBLA’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, the commercial variety, Weigela Florida ‘Verweig’ U.S. PlantPat. No. 16,824 in most horticultural characteristics, however, plantsof the new cultivar ‘WFMOBLA’ differs in the following:

1. Dark burgundy black leaves, the parent has green, cream and pinkvariegated leaves.2. Foliage has a higher gloss.3. Clean Autumn foliage

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘WFMOBLA’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Weigela ‘Elvera’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,217. Thesevarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however‘WFMOBLA’ differs in the following:

1. Dark burgundy foliage under poly in Spring; Comparator foliage is adirty green under the same conditions.2. Hardier plant.3. Stronger flowering.4. Foliage is glossier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘WFMOBLA’. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typicalfoliage and flowers of ‘WFMOBLA’ grown in a greenhouse, in Grand Haven,Minn., in a commercial 1 gallon container. Age of the plant photographedis approximately 3 years. Plants were grown in a double poly coveredgreenhouse through the winter, and under shade cloth through the latespring and summer. The photographs were taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘WFMOBLA’ plants grown in a commercialgreenhouse in Grand Haven, Minn. Plants were grown in a double polycovered greenhouse through the winter, and under shade cloth through thelate spring and summer. The description is of plants during Mid July of2014. The plants were 3 years old and in 3 gallon containers. Thegrowing temperature ranged from −31° C. to 38° C. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela florida ‘WFMOBLA’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at approximately 27°            C.        -   Root description.—Fine, thin and freely branching.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 2 months at 27°            C.-   Plant:    -   -   Plant type.—Shrub perennial.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 3 years old.        -   Growth habit.—Compact with good branching.        -   Pot size of plant described.—3 gallon pot.        -   Height.—Approximately 27 cm to top of foliage.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 50 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Medium.        -   Plant vigor.—Strong.        -   Branching characteristics.—Good, significant amount of basal            and intermodal branching.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 16.8 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—About 12.        -   Stem.—Stem Appearance: Rounded with ridges on opposite side            180° apart, on pubescent stem. Stem Color: Near RHS Brown            200B Pubescence; : Yes, predominately on the ridges. Aspect:            Straight, occurring at an angle of approximately 40-45°.        -   Internode length.—Average 2.5-3.5 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite. Durability of foliage to            stress: Very durable. Quantity: Approximately 12 fully            expanded per main branch. Average Length: Approximately            4.5 cm. Average Width: Approximately 2.5 cm. Shape of blade:            Ovate-oblanceolate Apex: Acuminate-Acute. Base:            Cuneate-attenuate. Attachment: Stalked. Margin: Serrulate            Texture of top surface: Slightly pubescence, soft. Texture            of bottom surface: More pubescence than upper side, feels            rougher and slightly gritty. Color: Young foliage upper            side: Near RHS Greyed-green 191A with Greyed-purple 187A            around the edges. Young foliage under side: Near RHS            Greyed-green 191A with Greyed-purple 187A around the edges            Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-purple 187A            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-purple 187A            Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: Small            veins Near RHS Greyed-purple 187B Aroungd the edges            Greyed-green 197A; Midrib Yellow-green 145A Venation color            under side: Near RHS Greyed-purple 187B Petiole: Average            Length: Approximately 5 mm Diameter: Connection to leaf: 1            mm; Connecting to stem: 3 mm. Petiole color upper side:.            Near RHS Yellow-green 145A Petiole color lower side: Near            RHS Yellow-green 145A. Petiole Texture upper side: Pubescent            Petiole Texture lower side: Pubescent Other foliage            characteristics: Dimensional, subtle fade between purple and            red groups on foliage.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Early to late Spring.        -   Flower arrangement.—Single salverform flowers, mostly            terminal.        -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Umbel.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—About 4-6.        -   Inflorescence size.—Width: Approximately 4 cm. Height:            Approximately 6.5 cm.        -   Individual flowers.—Flower form: Salverform Flower Aspect:            Upright and slightly outward Size: Diameter: Approximately 1            cm Length: Approximately 3.3 mm Tube length: 1.5 cm Tube            base diameter: 3 mm Flower throat diameter, top: 3 mm Flower            Other Characteristics: Flower tube color: Lightly shaded            near RHS Red-purple 70B. Flower throat color: Near RHS            yellow-orange 22A with slight striation of RHS White 155A.            Persistence: Self cleaning. Fragrance: None.        -   Petal.—Petal arrangement: Whorl petals fused at opening of            throat. Number of petals per flower: 4 Petal appearance:            Smooth, slight color variation. Petal Shape:            Rounded-orbicular Margin: Entire, slightly undulate Tip            shape: Obtuse Length: 1.2 cm Width: 9 mm Texture: Upper:            Smooth, soft, delicate. Lower: Smooth, soft, delicate.            Throat; Soft, smooth.        -   Petal color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS            Red-purple 66D at tip fading into red-purple 64A at base.            Lower surface: Soft fade near RHS Red-purple 66A Fully            opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-purple 66D at tip fading            into red-purple 64A at base. Lower surface: Near RHS            Red-purple 66A Petal vein Color: Upper side: Near RHS Purple            75B Lower Side: Near RHS Red-purple 6A well blended.        -   Bud.—Shape: Obovate Length: Approximately 3.4 cm Diameter:            Approximately 1 cm Color: Near RHS Red-purple 59A.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Narrowly triangular Arrangement: Unguiculate,            fused at base. Number of Sepal: 5 Length: Approximately 1 cm            Width: Approximately 3 mm Calyx shape: Uniguiculate Margin:            Entire Base: Obtuse Tip: Acuminate Texture: Smooth,            conaceous. Color: Upper side: Near RHS Red-purple 59A            lightly shaded. Lower side: Near RHS Red-purple 59B.        -   Pedicel.—Length: Average 1.5 cm. Diameter: 2 mm Color: Near            RHS Red-Purple 59A with slight striation of Yellow-green            145A Strength: Good Texture: Smooth, coriaceous, slightly            pubescent.        -   Peuncle.—No true peduncle, inflorescence arises from branch.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Filament length: Approximately 1.6 cm            Filament color: Near RHS White 155A blended with Red-purple            58A.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Linear, slightly oblong. Length:            Approximately 8 mm Color: Near RHS Greyed-yellow 161D            Pollen: Not observed.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Approximately 2.5 cm Style:            Length: Approximately 3 cm Color: Near RHS white 155A            blended with Red-purple 58A Stigma: Shape: Globular,            flat-bottomed, lobed. Color: Near RHS Greyed-yellow 160D            Ovary color: Near RHS Red-purple 59A.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not observed to date.        -   Garden performance.—Excellent.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Good mildew resistance.        -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates            temperatures between −31 to 38° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Weigela plantnamed ‘WFMOBLA’ as herein illustrated and described.